Avro 557 Ava
Avro · United Kingdom · first flew 1924 · bomber
The Avro 557 Ava was a large twin-engine British torpedo bomber biplane designed in the early 1920s to meet a Fleet Air Arm requirement for a carrier-capable anti-shipping aircraft. Its substantial size and twin-engine layout distinguished it from contemporary single-engine torpedo carriers.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 17.75 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
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Spot it by:
- Large British twin-engine torpedo bomber biplane prototype, 1924
- Twin vertical tails carried on a wide-span biplane layout
- Designed to carry a torpedo externally on Fleet Air Arm operations
Very large biplane with twin engines mounted between the wings, prominent twin tail fins, and a wide fuselage designed to carry a torpedo externally; the 29.5 m wingspan is exceptional for a British torpedo aircraft of the period.
Specifications
- The Avro 557 Ava has a length of 17.75 m (58 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 29.51 m (97 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 185 km/h (115 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Built to an Air Ministry specification for a twin-engine torpedo bomber, the Avro 557 first flew in 1924 but was not selected for production, losing out to smaller, more practical single-engine designs. Only two prototypes were completed.
Variants
Two prototypes were built with minor differences; no production order followed.
Where you'll see it
Evaluated by the Fleet Air Arm but not adopted for service; the Ava remained a prototype throughout.
Related aircraft
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